Nokia 2 Vs Xiaomi Redmi 4A: Battle of the entry level smartphones

HMD Global launched its latest budget device, the Nokia 2 in India at an event held in New Delhi yesterday. Priced in India at Rs. 7,500, the Nokia 2 is the most affordable Nokia smartphone in the current lineup from HMD. One of the main selling points of the phone is its 2 days battery life, according to the company.

However, given its price, Xiaomi Redmi 4A is being seen as the closest challenger to the Nokia 2. Redmi 4A was launched back in March and it is priced at Rs. 5,999 for the 2GB/16GB variant. However, Xiaomi has also launched a 3GB/32GB variant of Redmi 4A at Rs. 6,999.

Based on the price and the specifications we are doing a quick comparison between the Nokia 2 and the Xiaomi Redmi 4A to see which phone is a better value proposition.

Nokia 2 Vs Xiaomi Redmi 4A Specifications

Key Specifications

Nokia 2

Xiaomi Redmi 4A

Display

5-inch LTPS LCD display with Gorilla Glass 3

5.0-inch IPS LCD display

Screen Resolution

1280 x 720 pixels

1280 x 720 pixels

Operating System

Android 7.1 Nougat

Android 6.0. Marshmallow, MIUI

Processor

Quad-core

Quad-Core

Chipset

Snapdragon 212

Snapdragon 425

GPU

Adreno 304

Adreno 308

RAM

1GB

2GB/3GB

Internal Storage

8GB

16GB/32GB

Expandable Storage

Yes, up to 128GB

Yes, up to 256GB

Primary Camera

8 MP, autofocus, LED flash

13 MP f/2.2, autofocus, LED flash

Secondary Camera

5MP fixed focus

5 MP, f/2.2

Video Recording

1080p@30fps

1080p @30fps

Battery

4,100 mAh

3,120 mAh

4G VoLTE

Yes

Yes

Sim Card Type

Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)

Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)

Dimensions

143.5 x 71.3 x 9.3 mm

139.9 x 70.4 x 8.5 mm

Weight

NA

140g

Price

Rs. 7,500

2GB/16GB – Rs. 5,999

3GB/32GB – Rs. 6,999

Design & Display

The Nokia 2 features a polycarbonate back with a Series 6000 aluminum frame, so you can expect the phone to be very sturdy. It sports a 5-inch HD (720 x 1280p) LTPS LCD display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 on top.

On the other hand, the Xiaomi Redmi 4A comes with a plastic body. It also features a 5-inch IPS LCD display panel with HD (1280 x 720) resolution.

Overall, design and build quality wise the Nokia 2 definitely surpasses the Redmi 4A. The metallic framed polycarbonate body of the Nokia 2 offers a premium feel. Also, the Nokia 2 features Gorilla Glass 3 protection for the display which definitely gives it an edge over the Redmi 4A.

The Nokia 2 is the clear winner in this segment.

Hardware and Storage

The Nokia 2 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 212 chipset with a quad-core processor and Adreno 304 GPU. Memory wise, it comes with 1GB of RAM and has 8GB built-in storage that can be expanded up to 128GB using a microSD card.

On the other hand, the Redmi 4A comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 chipset with a quad-core processor and Adreno 308 GPU. This is further coupled with 2GB or 3GB of RAM and 16GB or 32GB internal storage. The internal storage can be upgraded up to 256GB.

Looking at the hardware and memory of the two devices, we can say Redmi 4A beats the Nokia 2 easily.

Software and Performance

The Nokia 2 runs on Android 7.1.1 Nougat out of the box, with an upgrade to Android 8.0 Oreo promised by the company. Additionally, one of the talking points of HMD’s launches has been stock Android and fast updates, so buyers of the Nokia 2 can expect the company to deliver updates in a timely manner. Given the company’s recent track record, it seems believable at this point.

On the other hand, the Redmi 4A runs on Xiaomi’s own Android skin MIUI based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Given the heavy customization that MIUI brings to the table, users may not always get the most recent Android OS updates in a timely manner. However, Xiaomi delivers MIUI updates often enough.

In this segment, it all comes down to your preference – with the Nokia 2, you can expect a clean and lean OS with smooth performance and timely OS updates, but it misses out on some features that are found in custom skins. On the other hand, the Redmi 4A offers a more richer experience, but the performance may not be up to the mark due to the heavy skin and OS updates may be delayed.

Camera

The Nokia 2 sports an 8MP rear camera featuring Autofocus and an LED Flash. On the front, Nokia 2 features a 5MP fixed focus camera for selfies and video calling.

On the other hand, the Redmi 4A features a 13MP rear camera with autofocus and LED flash. At the front, there is a 5MP camera.

In the camera department, the Redmi 4A has an upper hand due to a 13MP camera configuration at the rear.

However, at the launch, a Nokia official said that they have made optimizations to Nokia 2 camera. We will be testing the phone out over the next few days, so, at this moment, it is early to say which phone has a better camera in terms of real world performance.

Battery Life

The battery is also of the main decisive components between any two devices, especially in this price segment. With the Nokia 2, HMD is claiming 2 days of battery life, thanks to the 4,100 mAh battery. On the other hand, the Redmi 4A comes with a smaller 3,120 mAh battery.

The Nokia 2 is a clear winner in this segment.

Pricing and Availability

HMD Global has priced the Nokia 2 at Rs. 7,500, and it will be available both online as well as offline in the coming weeks.

On the other hand, the Redmi 4A is priced at Rs. 5,999 for its 2GB/16GB variant and the 32GB variant of Redmi 4A with 3GB RAM is priced at Rs. 6,999. It can be purchased online at Flipkart and Mi.com.

So, going by prices we can see Redmi 4A which is priced slightly lower can beat the Nokia 2.

Conclusion

There are a few considerable differences between the Nokia 2 and the Redmi 4A.

The Nokia 2 shines in terms of design and build, software and the battery life, while the Redmi 4A pips the Nokia 2 in terms of hardware and storage, price and perhaps the camera.

If you are a Nokia fan and looking for a budget device then the Nokia 2 is really a good option. However, if you do not care much about the brand, and are looking for a budget device with enough RAM and storage and a better processor, the Redmi 4A is worth considering.